Movable bottom elevating type scraper with bottom cleaning gate



.1. E. HANCOCK ETAL 3,426,457- MOVKBLE BOTTOM ELEVATING TYPE SCRAPERWITH BOTTOM CLEANING GATE Feb. 11,1969

/ Y of 2 Sheet Filed Sept. 12, 1966 INVENTORS JAMES F. HANCOCK -11 yHOWARD E STl/LLER mum ATTORNEYS 1 1969 J. E. HANCOCK ETAL 3,

MOVABLE BOTTOM ELEVATING TYPE SCRAPER WITH'BOTTOM CLEANING GATE FiledSept.

INVENTORS. q JAMES E HANCOCK '4 BY HOWARD 4-. swam m Q M ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,426 457 MOVABLE BOTTDM ELEi'ATING TYPE SCRAPERWITH BOTTOM CLEANING GATE James E. Hancock and Howard E. Stuller,Lubbock, Tex., assignors to Clark Equipment Company, a corporation ofMichigan Filed Sept. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 578,552

U.S. Cl. 37-8 Claims Int. Cl. E02f 3/ 82 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates to wheeled elevating type scrapers, and moreparticularly to a two-wheeled scraper wherein the bowl or box fills atits front end and dumps through the open bottom thereof.

This invention further relates to elevating scrapers having a conveyorfor moving dirt into the box somewhat similar to the conveyors inPatents Nos. 2,791,041, 2,931,451 and 3,090,139.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a wheeledscraper having a frame tiltable on the axles of the wheels to lower thecutting blade to the ground and having a bottom for the box to containthe dirt wherein the bottom rolls or swings rearwardly and upwardlybehind a partial rear gate so that the dirt will fall through the openbottom of the box; to provide the lower edge of the end gate with astrike-off device so that the dirt will be pushed from the bottom of thebox as it rolls upwardly behind the end gate; to provide the swingingbottom with plates on each side of the bottom of the box extendingvertically therefrom along the inside walls of the box; to provide meansfor pivotally mounting the plates at their upper ends to the upperinside walls or frame of the box to thereby pivotally mount the bottomfor free swinging movement to loading and unloading position or topartial opening as desired.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide formounting of hydraulic cylinders on the frame having pistons with rodspivotally mounted to the plates near the upper ends thereof on each sideof the box for movement of the plates to swing the bottom as abovenoted; to provide means for adjustment of the rolling of the bottomwhereby the levelling blade will be lower than the scraper blade whenunloading the dirt; and to provide the forward edge of the bottom with astrike-off blade whereby when the door or gate is partially open theblade will smooth off the dirt dumped from the box as the vehicle ismoved forwardly.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide hydraulic meansfor tilting of the frame of the scraper including the blade to dirtpick-up position and to so mount the blade for movement up and down toregulate the depth of the strike-off blade on the rolling bottom whenused for spreading the dirt as it is dumped from the box.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide adrive-line bearing from the power take-off of the tractor to theconveyor of the scraper for operating the conveyor as shown in PatentNo. 3,090,139. It will also be obvious that this conveyor may be drivenby other means such as hydraulic or electrical motors and the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a side, partly fragmentary view, particularly illustrating ourelevating scraper and the box shown in transporting position with thebottom in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View through a part of the scraper,particularly illustrating the blade, the movable bottom and thehydraulic apparatus for rolling the bottom to open and closed position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, particularly illustrating the mounting of theside plate on the bottom and the connection of the hydraulic cylindersthereto.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, particularly illustratingmounting of the plates on the frame which carry the rolling bottom.

Referring more in detail to. the drawings.

1 designates a scraper embodying the features of our invention,including a framework 2 consisting of a box 3 having side walls 4 and 5and a partial rear end or gate 6. The frame includes longitudinallyextending side members 7 and lower side members as indicated at 8 (FIG.1). The frame includes cross members 9 and 10 and a closed end 11 and arearwardly extending framework 12, including an axle 13 upon whichwheels 14 are mounted as is the usual practice. Mounting of the rearwheels is substantially similar to that shown in Patent No. 3,048,934.

15 designates a conveyor or elevator of the type illustrated in PatentNo. 2,791,041, which moves the dirt from the scraper blade 16 as theblade loosens the dirt from the ground and the conveyor moves it to thebox 3. The conveyor elevator mechanism includes spaced chains 17 towhich are secured transverse slats or drags 18. The chains are trainedover sprockets at the upper and lower ends of the conveyor, the upperend of the conveyor being mounted on the frame of the tractor by arms19. The forward end of the frame has a pair of arms 20 connected to agooseneck 21 'having a fifth wheel connected to the axle 22 and wheels23. The side members 8 have forward extensions 24 to which are attachedone end 25 of an extension member 26 such as hydraulic cylinders. Theother end 27 of the extension member is secured to a bracket 28extending from the gooseneck 20. It will be obvious that two cylindersare used, one on each side of the tractor. The arms 20 are connected attheir forward ends by a cross bar (not shown) and the bracket 28 dependsfrom the cross member.

The blade 16 is secured to a frame structure 29 which extends betweenthe side members 8 of the side walls of the box and is rigidly securedthereto. The frame 29 includes a forwardly sloping portion 30 and arearwardly sloping portion 31. The blade 16 is rigidly secured to thesloping surface 30.

The bottom and partly open rear end is closed by a movable or rollingbottom member 32, curved substantially as shown in FIG. 2. Secured tothe forward edge 33 of the bottom 32 is a strike-off or blade leveler 34which, when the door is in closed position, the forward surface thereofengages against the lower edge 35 of the rearwardly sloping surface 31of the cross frame.

Secured to the top side 36 of the rolling bottom 32 at the forward edgethereof are upwardly extending plates or arms 37 and 38 and have theirupper ends pivotally secured by short shaft 39 to brackets 40 rigidlysecured to the side members 7, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3 for rolling movement of the bottom 32 as hereinafter described.The plates 37 and the side edges of the bottom are freely movable withinthe side walls 4 and 5 of the box 3. Spaced downwardly from the pivotpoint 39 of the plates 37 are brackets 41 to which are attached one endof extensible members 42, the other end of which are secured to brackets43 on the forward downwardly sloping edge 44 of the side walls 4 and 5of the box 3, the connection being at 45 (FIG. 2) and also pivotallymounted at that end of the extension member.

While we have particularly illustrated the hydraulic cylinders andplates and the location of the bottom in FIG. 2, it is obvious thereWill be a plate on each side of the door and pivotally mounted on theinside of each of the side members 7 and of the box and the extensionmembers 42 will be on each side thereof to move the door to open orclosed position in an even distribution of load.

In FIG. 2 the bottom is shown in closed position and the upper edge 46slightly above the lower edge 47 of the partial end gate 6, which isspaced forwardly of the end 11 of the frame. Secured to the outer sideof the gate 6 is a scraper 48 so that when the door 36 is rolled orpivoted upwardly, any dirt or other sticky material will be moved fromthe bottom 32 by the blade 48. 49 indicates a stiffening bar on the endgate.

50 indicates a tractor having rear wheels 51, but it is here stated thatthis may be either a pull type scraper or self propelled type. In thepresent form we have shown a hitch at 52 with a power take-off 53 havinguniversal connections at 54 and 55 connecting with a bearing housing 56which, in turn, is rigidly mounted on a bracket 57 of the gooseneck 21.Connected to the bearing housing is a drive shaft line 58 connected tothe gear box 50 (not shown but as clearly illustrated in Patent No.3,090,- 139). The fluid supply for the hydraulic cylinders may be fromthe hydraulic system of the tractor or from a suitable source, andparticularly as illustrated in Patent No. 3,221,424.

By manipulation of a control lever (not shown), fluid is furnished fromthe source of fluid pressure to the cylinders 26 through lines 60 toeach of the cylinders to lower the cutting blade 16 to the ground tocontact the earth to loosen the dirt where it can be contacted and movedinto thebox by the conveyor mechanism as shown and described. To raisethe cutting blade, fluid is supplied to the cylinders 26 through lines61. The operation of the control levers of the control and fluid forraising and loweririg the scraper blade is the same as that shown inPatent No. 3,221,424. It will be obvious that the regulation of thedepth of the cutting blades is an important feature of applicantsinvention for the reason that by raising and lowering the cutting blade,as just above described, the strike-off blade or plate 34 will cause thedirt, as it drops from the box, to be spread evenly behind the cutterblade when in the position as shown in dotted lines as indicated at 62,FIG. 2.

The movement of the rolling bottom 36 is accomplished by manipulation ofthe cylinders 42 and 42'. To move the door to open position, fluid isfurnished through lines 63 to the cylinders 42 and 42' and the pistonrod as indicated in dotted lines (FIG. 2) is extended to move the plates37 rearwardly to any position desired. The door can be stopped as shownin dotted lines at 62 or it can be further moved backwardly and upwardlyso that the plate 48 will move the dirt therefrom entirely. By releaseof the control of the fluid and movement of fluid through lines 64 and65, the pistons in the cylinder are moved to their normal position asshown in full lines, FIG. 2, and the door 32 is closed and the scraperis again ready for use. It will also be obvious that when the spread ofthe dirt removed from the box is made, the blade 34 will be lower thanthe scraper blade 16.

It will further be obvious that the plate 48 is so positioned that alldirt, gumbo, other sticky material will be removed from the inside ofthe bottom as the bottom is moved to open position.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that we have provided an improvedscraper wherein the bottom serves partly as a rear end gate and has apartial end gate for moving of dirt from the bottom when the bottom isrolled upwardly behind the gate and also that the bottom is providedwith a blade for leveling of the dirt as it is moved from the box.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described oneform of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatus for handling dirt comprising,

(a) a mobile frame having a rear end,

(b) a dirt collecting box on said frame having side walls and an openfront and bottom,

(c) scraper means for loosening dirt for movement of the dirt into thedirt collecting box,

(d) means mounted on the dirt collecting box for movement of the dirtinto said box as it is loosened by the scraper means,

(e) a vertically extending gate rigidly mounted in said box spacedforwardly of said end of the frame, said gate extending into said boxless than half the depth thereof,

(f) a closure member for the open portion of the rear end and bottomportion of said box,

(g) means on said closure member including side arm members connected tothe side edges of the forward portion thereof swingably mounting saidclosure member on the inside of said box,

(h) and extension means secured to said frame and to said arm members ofsaid closure member for swinging said closure member from closed to adesired partially open position and to open position and to fully closedposition, said closure member having a curved rear portion and an upperedge terminating adjacent to the rear lower edge of said gate when inclosed position closing the rear end of the box and a flat bottomportion closing the bottom of said box and said curved portion of theclosure member being swingable vertically behind said gate and said gatehaving a blade secured to the lower rear edge to remove the dirt fromsaid closure member as it moves past said gate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and including levelling means on saidclosure member to level the dirt as it falls from said box.

3. Apparatus for handling dirt comprising,

(a) a mobile frame having a rear end,

(b) a dirt collecting box having side walls and an open front and bottomand a partially open rear end,

(0) scraper means for loosening dirt for movement of the dirt into thedirt collecting box, said means including a frame member rigidly securedto each of the lower side members of said frame and having a forwardlysloping surface and a rearwardly sloping surface,

((1) conveyor means mounted on the dirt collecting box for movement ofthe dirt into said box as it is loosened by the scraper means,

(e) a gate rigidly mounted on the upper portion of said box spacedforwardly of said closed end of the frame and etxending downwardly intosaid box a distance less than half the depth of said box,

(f) a closure member for the open bottom of said box and the partiallyopen rear end,

(g) means on said closure member including side arm members rigidlysecured to forward side edges thereof swingably mounting said closuremember on the inside of said box,

(h) and extensible means secured to said frame and to said arm membersof said closure member for swinging said closure member from closed to adesired partially open position and to open position and to fully closedposition, said closure member having a curved rear portion and an upperedge terminating adjacent to the rear lower edge of said gate 'when inclosed position closing the rear end of the box and a flat bottomportion closing the bottom of said box and said curved portion of theclosure member being swingable vertically behind said gate and said gatehaving a blade secured to the lower rear edge to remove the dirt fromsaid closure member as it moves past said gate. 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 and including leveling means on said closure member to level thedirt as it falls from said lbox, said leveling means when the closure 15member is in partial and full open position being lower than saidscraper means and in closed position engaging the rearwardly slopingsurface of the scraper frame memher.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means on References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Perkins et a1 214-511 Hancock 37--l Watts 214131 Rockwell37-! Campbell et al. 37-! ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

EUGENE H. EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

